Fulling and washing machine



June 7, 1938. D. GESSNER FULLING AND WASHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 19, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet JWMQIZW JW/ 6 2280722" dar ly: v MM 74 x June 7, 1938.

D. GESSNER 2,120,025

FULLING AND WASHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 19, 1934 s Sheets-Sheet 2 June 7, 1938 D. GESSNER FULLING AND WASHING MACHINE Filed sept. 19, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 7, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIE FULLING AND WASHING MACHINE David Gessner, Worcester, Mass.

Application September 19, 1934, Serial No. 744,713

16 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for fulling and washing cloth preparatory to finishing operations thereon, this application being a continuation in part of my prior application on 5 Fuiling machine, Serial No. 569,577, filed by me October 19, 1931 and patented October 16, 1934, Patent No. 1,977,579.

One object of my present invention is to provide an improved and simplified construction of the fulling stocks and the supporting and actuating mechanism therefor.

A further object is to provide improved means for applying heat to the cloth during the fulling and washing operation thereon, preferably by heating the conveyor belt on one or both sides thereof.

My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings, in which Fig. l is a side elevation of a fulling machine embodying my improvements;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section, of certain portions of my improved machine; V

Fig. 3 is a partial end elevation, partly in section, and looking in the direction of the arrow a in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vdetail plan view, looking in the direction of the arrow 4 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an end view of a modified construc tion of fulling stock;

Fig. 6 is a detail side elevation, looking in the direction of the arrow 6 in Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view, taken along the line 1-4 in Fig. 1. 7

Referring to the drawings, my improved fulling machine comprises a frame I!) having outwardly projecting end portions II and 12. A tank or trough I3 is mounted on the end portion ll of the frame and a pair of driven squeeze rolls M are mounted above the'tank l3.

The tank is supplied with a solution of soap and water, or with any other desired solution, and the cloth C is drawn through the solution by the rolls I4 and thereafter passes around guide rolls i5 and is delivered to pleaters l6 by which it is deposited in folded condition on a conveyor 20.

This conveyor 29 is preferably formed of a plurality of relatively narrow belts 20a, as shown in Fig. 3, which belts are driven by a drum 22 (Fig. 1) at the delivery end of the machine. The

drum 22 may be rotated by a belt 23 or in any other suitable manner.

The conveyor 20 also passes around guide rolls 24, 25, 26 and 2'! and passes over fulling tables 38 and 3|. A hand Wheel 32 (Fig. 1) is provided *5 for adjusting the guide roll 21 to regulate the tension on the conveyor 20. Fulling stocks 3 (Fig. 2) are supported on bars 35 which are mounted at the lower ends of forked members 37 which have their upper ends pivoted on crank portions 38 (Figs. 3 and4) formed at the opposite ends of crank-shafts 40. Each crankshaft 40 is provided with a gear 4| (Fig. 2), which in turn is connected through an intermediate gear 42 to a pinion 43 on a drive shaft 44.

The drive shaft 44 is shown in Fig. 1 as provided with a large pulley or sprocket 45 connected by a belt or chain 46 to a driving motor M. Any other suitable means may be provided for rotating the drive shaft 44. The shafts 40 and 20 crank portions 38 are so disposed that one set of fulling blocks rises as the other set descends.

After the fulling operation, the cloth C is drawn upward from the conveyor 20 over guide rolls 48 and 49 (Fig. 1) and is delivered to storage receptacles or winding devices as desired.

The preferred construction of the fulling stocks 33 and the supporting structure therefor is shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 3. Each fulling stock is preferably formed from a single board or plank extending transversely of the path of travel of the cloth and from one side to the other of the machine. Each fulling stock 33 is provided with a bracket 50 near each end at the upper edge thereof, and each bracket 50 has a pin orstud 5| J mounted therein and substantially offset with respect to the central longitudinal plane of the fulling block 33.

An endless strap or loop 52 of cotton belting or other flexible material connects each pin or stud 5| to a corresponding cross pin or stud 53 (Fig. 3) mounted in the supporting bar 35 (Fig. 2) secured to the spaced lower ends of the associated forked member 31 previously described. The supporting bars 35 are preferably made from channel beams, as indicated in Fig. 3. V

The offset position of the pins 5| causes the fulling stocks 33 to hang in an inclined position, as shown in Fig. 2, so that when the stocks descend and strike the cloth the lower ends thereof Will slide in the direction of the travel of the cloth, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2. Each fulling stock thus has a combined rocking and sliding movement with respect to the folded In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown a slightly modified construction in which double brackets 55 are provided. With this construction the pins or studs5| may be placed in either opening in the bracket 55, so that a fulling stock may be reversed and the wear on its lower edge may be thus distributed.

-Bushings 56 (Fig. 6) are'preferably mounted on the pins 5| and 53 to reduce the wear on the pins and to afford a surface of larger radius for the loops 52.

In Fig. 5 I have also shown the fulling stock 60 as provided with a detachable and replaceable lower edge portion 6|. By this construction the useful life of the fulling stocks may be substantially prolonged, as all of. the wear comes on the lower edge which engages the cloth.

In the preferred construction, as shown in Fig. 4, the top member 62 of the frame I0 is widened and recessed to provide clearance for the crank portions 38 and to provide bearings63 for the crankshaft at each side of the crankshaft portion. A firm and rigid support for the shafts 49 and for the parts associated therewith is thus provided. a

I have found that the application of heat to the fulling tables 30 and 3| facilitates the fulling operation, and for this reason I mount the tables 30 and 3| on guideways- 10 formed at the sides 1 of heating chambers "H and ,12.

13 extend across the upper edges of the heating Spaced ribs chambers II and 12 to-maintain the sides thereof in fixed relation.

The chambers 12 and"|3 are fixed to the left- 7 hand side portion of the frame H) (as viewed in Fig. 3) and are formed or provided with bracket portions 14 for additional support. The heating tables 30 and 3| extend entirely across the machine and are secured to both side portionsof the frame I0 by bolts 15 (Fig. 3).

An adjusting screw 16 (Fig. 3) is provided for each table 30 and 3|, and each screw 16 is mounted for freerotation in a bearing 11 in the machine frame but is held from axial movement therein. v

A handwheel 18 is provided for each adjusting screw 16, and each screw 16 is threaded into a nut 80 formed at the lower end of a bracket 8| secured withinthe table 30 or 3| and depending therefrom.

'Iheconstruction above described is provided so that theendless belts 20 forming the conveyor 20pmay be conveniently removed and replaced when necessary. 'When such replacement is desired, the bolts 15 are removed and the hand wheel 18 and adjusting screw 16 are ro- .tated in such a direction as to withdraw the tables 30 and 3| toward the leftin Fig. 3, thus providing sufficient clearance at the right-hand end of each table to permitinsertion of anew belt 20 .v During such withdrawal and return movement of the fulling tables 30 and 3|, these 7 parts slide freely on the guideways 10 (Fig. 2) by'which they are supported. 1

.Ea'chtable 30 and 3| is preferably provided with a smooth covering of rubber or other suitable material over which the conveyor belts slide during the fulling and washing operations. Each heating chamber H and I2 is provided with a plurality of steam pipes 88 (Fig.1) by which effective heating of the tables 30 and. 3| may be secured. Additional steam pipes 89 may be provided, by which heat may be applied "directly to veyor belts.

An extended tank or trough 90 (Fig. 1) collects the fulling or washing solution pressed out of the cloth during a fulling or washing operation thereon, and a second and lower tank 92 may be providedto receive clear water for cleaning and flushing the conveyor belts during their idle return movement. The upper tank 90 is supported in such manner that the conveyor belts can pass freely under the tank during their return travel. One end of the tank also clears the right-hand side portion of the frame W (as viewed in Fig. 3) so as to provide clearance space'for removing and replacing the conveyor belts as previously described.

It is sometimes desirable to spray the cloth after it leavesthe squeeze rolls l4 .andto draw this moisture into or through the cloth by passing the cloth over a suction device. For this purpose I may provide a spray pipe I00 (Fig. 1)

I the outer or cloth-supporting side of the con- 7 by which water may be applied to the top sureffectively close the end portions of the slot in,

the mouthpiece I02 beyond the edges of the cloth C and thus assist in maintaining the vacuum.

The details of construction of the vacuum device and slotclosing means are fully disclosed in Patent No. 2,001,417, issued to me May 14, 1935,

and to which reference is made fora more complete description.

The vacuum device will commonly be maintained inoperative during a fulling operation but may desirably be tion. 1

A combined fulling and washing machine conused during a washing opera lM when the vacuum device. is I structed as above described may be economically manufactured and is particularly effective for its intended purpose.

Having thus described my invention and the;

advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as a set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:-

1. In a fulling machine, a plurality of stocks,

a supporting structure therefor, and means to verticallyrecip-rocate said structure to effect afulling operation, said stocks being free to swing" in the direction of travel of the cloth. a

2. In a fulling machine, a plurality of stocks, a supporting structure therefor, and means to vertically reciprocate said structure'to effect a fulling operation, said stocks extending -trans-' V versely of the direction of travel of the cloth and in closely parallel relation, and the lower ends of said stocks being freely slidable in the direction of cloth travel.

'3. In a fulling machine, a plurality of stocks, a supporting structure therefor, means to vertically reciprocate said structure to effect a fulling operation, said stocks extending transversely of the direction of travel of the cloth and in closely parallel relation, and a separate flexible looped member connecting each end of each stock to said supporting structure. 7 V 7 4. The combination in a fulling machine as set forth in claim 3, in which said looped members are connected to each stock substantially to one side of the central longitudinal plane thereof.

5. A fulling machine having a plurality of fulling stocks, supporting devices therefor, and means to vertically reciprocate said devices and stocks to effect a fulling operation, each stock comprising a transversely extended and freely swinging board, and said stocks being supported by said devices in closely parallel relation.

6. A fulling machine having a plurality of fulling stocks, supporting devices therefor, and means to vertically reciprocate said devices and stocks to effect a fulling operation, each stock comprising a transversely extended and freely swinging board, and said stocks being supported by said devices in closely parallel relation and each being free to swing about an offset axis at the upper edge thereof.

7. In a fulling machine, an inclined fulling table, means to deliver cloth in folds to said table, a plurality of fulling stocks, means to operate said stocks to engage and full the clothwhile on said table, a heating chamber on which said table is mounted, and means to heat said chamber, said table being longitudinally slidable on said heating chamber to provide end clearance.

8. In a fulling machine, an inclined fulling table, means to deliver cloth in folds to said table, a plurality of fulling stocks, means to operate said stocks to engage and full the cloth While on said table, a heating chamber on which said table is mounted, said table being longitudinally slidable on said heating chamber to provide end clearance, means to slide said table, and means to heat said chamber.

9. In a fulling machine, means to support the cloth during a fulling operation thereon comprising an inclined fulling table, a heating chamber underlying and supporting said table, said chamber having longitudinal guideways for said table, and means to move said table along said guideways.

10. In a fulling machine, means to support the cloth during a fulling operation thereon comprising an inclined fulling table, a heating chamber underlying and supporting said table, said chamber having longitudinal guideways for said table, means to move said table along said guideways, and means to heat said chamber.

11. In a fulling and washing machine, a conveyor formed of a plurality of parallel belts, a fulling table over which said belts are drawn, a drainage tank underlying said table and a frame on which said table and tank are mounted within the path of travel of said belts, said table and tank being free from said frame at one end to provide clearance for belt removal and replacement.

12. In a fulling and washing machine, a conveyor formed of a plurality of parallel belts, a fulling table over which said belts are drawn, a drainage tank underlying said table, and a frame on which said table and tank are mounted'within the path of travel of said belts, a second tank underlying the lower run of said belts, and means to guide said belts through said second tank for washing thereof.

13. In a fulling and washing machine, fulling mechanism, means to convey cloth to and from said fulling mechanism, and means to extract water from said cloth as it approaches said mechanism, said extracting means being manually and selectively movable to operative or inoperative position, said extracting means com prising a movably mounted slotted mouthpiece and portions of rubber tubing held in position to cover end portions of the slot in said mouthpiece when the latter is in operative position.

14. As an article of manufacture, a fulling stock comprising an elongated board having bracketssecured thereto, each bracket having parallel spaced bearing openings disposed at opposite sides of the central longitudinal plane of said board and each substantially offset therefrom, and selectively adapted to receive a supporting stud.

15. In a fulling machine, an inclined fulling table, means to deliver cloth in folds to said table, a plurality of fulling stocks, means to operate said stocks to engage and full'the cloth while on said table, said table being a chambered which comprises providing a heating chamber beneath said table which is substantially trapezoidal in cross section and of which said table forms the top, said chamber being effective to supply heat to said table and to said conveyor and to the cloth'supported thereon during the fulling operation, and means to heat said chamber;

DAVID GESSNER. 

